Grain gatherer and packer for binders



(No Model.)

W. H. KNAPP. GRAIN GATHERER AND PAGKER FOR BINDERS. No. 368,892.

Patented Au Z w nhinghm. u. c.

' UNITED "STATES WILLIAM H. KNAPP, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

GALESBURG, MICHIGAN.

GRAIN GATHERER AND'PACKER FOR BINDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 368,892, dated August 23. 1887.

Application filed December 19, 1885. Serial No. 186134. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. KNAPP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Galesburg, county of Kalamazoo, State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Grain Gatherer and Packer for Binders, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to construct an apparatus alike applicablefor gathering and packing grain into a bundle for bind- 1ng by a reaping-machine, with which the apparatus is connected, consisting of a peculiarly-' constructed arm pivotally connected with an endless chain forming a part of the apparatus in a manner to be carried forward against the grain in an upright position, and to tilt backward and downward away from the grain when the latter is in place to be bound, all substantially as described below in detail,and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation, parts being in section on a line with the slot sin Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a top view; Fig. 3, a detail of lettered parts at the left hand of Fig. 1, enlarged, looking against the inside; and Fig. 4c, a top view of Fig. 3, and also of the chain with which the arm is pivoted, the position in the two latter figures of the arm being different from the position of the arm in Fig. 1, thus illustrating the operation.

Referring to the letters marked on the drawings, D D, Fig. 1, are sprocket-wheels carrying an endless chain, 0. Two sets of these wheels and chains are preferably employed. The chains are parallel to the cutter-bar of the reaper at the rear end of the grain-platform E and just beneath said rear end of the plat- The portion of the grain-table immediately in the rear of the cutter-bar is not shown; but the arrangement will be understood by the statement that the gathererchains and packerchains are parallel to the cutter-bar, and that the grain,after falling on the table in the rear of the cutter-bar, is swept back by suitable reel rakes (not here shown) to the rear in proper location tobe acted upon by the gatherer-arms.

The arm 1*, near its lower or rear end, has a right-angled projection,which is pivotally connected with a thimble, c, which slides back and forth during the operation on the guiderods a. These guide-rods are nearly on a level with the upper part of the endless chains. These rods a a have suitable supports, 6 t, at each end. Near the point where the projection z joins the arm 1' said arm is pivotally connected with the chain 0. By this means the arms 1" are carried in the lower position (shown by dotted lines'in Fig; 1) toward the outside of the platform E by the lower portion of the chain, said outside of the platform E being at the right-hand end of Fig. 1. As the arm is carried on around the Wheel D at this end, it assumes an upright position at said end, and is carried toward the left hand in said figure against the grain, which has previously been raked back on the platform E, gathering said grain into abundle at said left-hand end of Fig. 1, this being the point where the binding mechanism (not here shown) would be located in a grain-reaper. dotted arm 1' in Fig. 1 arrives at the righthand end, owing to its pivotal connection with the chain c, it will be swung around the wheel D to an upright position through a slot, 8, in the platform E, during which action the projection i of said arm turns on its fulcrum connection with the thimble 1). When the arm 1' is in said upright position, the projection t will be in front and at right angles thereto. When the arm 1" has traversed to the other side of the platform, lefthand end, Fig. 1, as above described, and as the chain continues to move, the .arm is tilted back from the bundle, as illustrated at left hand in Fig. 1, and downward to the lower position in dotted lines again, and so on, continuing to pass to the upright position again, and down after gathering another bundle. To illustrate: The arm at the left of Fig. 1 has commenced to tilt backward and downward. During this action To illustrate: When the.

it swings or turns on its pivotal connection with the chain, and the end of the projection turns on its fulcrum connection with the thimble 1), said thimble of course soon starting to slide back, and the arm 0' and projection i, when said arm attains its down position, will be in the same relation with the thimble as is shown by the dotted parts in Fig. 1. By this means the arm 2' is as firmly held in one position as another, and does not fly away from its fulcrum connections and fall to its down position loosely, as heretofore. Besides, there is little friction and few parts to get out of order, and the movement is firm and positive, even after long use.

The strip P, Fig. 1, forms a support for the upper chain to slide over, preventing the chain from sagging, and the bar it performs a similar service for the lower chain. I do nct limit myself to the particular details of these supports or tracks, for they are subject to many changes to conform to certain peculiari ties of different reapers and platforms, and to different positions my apparatus may occupy in relation to said platforms.

The bending downward of thebar a at the right end in Fig. 1 is to make room for the rear extension,f,of the arm 0' when said arm is being thrown to an upright position. The object of this extensionfis to obviate danger of the arm tilting to abnormal positions during its backward transit-that is, when carried by the lower part of the chain in its down position. The arm and its extensionf when in this position slide on the bar a. Atleast the extensionf would contact with said bar, because the tendency of the arm (being drawn by the lower part of the chain) is to assume an abnormal positionthat is,an upright position-before reaching the point where it properly swings on its fulcrum attachment with the thimble to an upright position. The contact of the bar it and extensionf prevents the arm swinging up until the point is reached where the bar a bends or curves downward.

The apparatus may be shielded from danger of contact with obstructions on the ground and from dust by a floor, B, below it.

Fig. 4 more clearly shows the pivotal connection of the arm with the chain c and with the sliding thimble a. Fig. 3 shows the arm in its down position, as when making its backward transit.

It is frequently desirable to pack the bundle,or rather the grain which is being gathered by the arms r into a bundle. In Fig. 2 two shorter chains, 0 c, on sprocket-wheels D are shown. These chains carry arms like the arms 1', which arms are pivoted to the chains in the same manner and to like tl1imbles,o,

sliding on like guide-bars, a. These arms, which in this position are called packers, are more frequently presented uprightly, acting against the grain, the arm of one chain alternating with the arm of the other chain, thus packing and crowding the grain forward to the place of binding, which is being gathered toward said point of binding by the gathererarms.

The reason that the packer-arms are presented more frequently than the gathererarms, as above stated, is because the chains 0 c are shorter and their arms have less distance to traverse. These packer-arms in their upright position play through slots H the same as the gatherer-arms through slots 8, Fig. 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is--- The endless chains arranged to travel entirely across the grain-table to the place of binding, and provided with gatherer-arms bowing forward at the upper end and having a right-angled projection near the lower end, said arms being pivoted to the side of the chain-1inks at the juncture of the arm and projection, guide-rods on a plane at or near the plane of the upper portions of the chains, sliding thimbles on said rods, to which thimbles the free end of the projections are pivoted, a guide-bar over which the arms slidein their down position, and shorter chains within and parallel with the other chains and provided with arms which act upon the grain more frequently than the gatherer-arms,all combined, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. KN APP.

Witnesses:

C. SWEE'ILAND, J r., E. C. SOUTHARD. 

